LOOK: President Duterte takes wounded soldiers from Marawi to Manila via presidential plane

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday brought his wounded soldiers from Camp Edilberto Evangelista Station Hospital in Cagayan de Oro to Manila for more medical treatment.

Nine out of  40 soldiers who were injured in a gunfight with the Maute Group rode the presidential plane together with President Rodrigo Duterte, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go and Presidential Communications assistant secretary Mocha Uson. The other wounded soldiers boarded the C295 Aircraft to fit them all.

This is the first time that the presidential plane was used as air ambulance to brought wounded soldiers for medical treatment.

Meanwhile, President Duterte apologized to the Maranao people for the massive destruction of Marawi City amid the ongoing clashes between the government troops and Maute Group, and for declaring Martial law in Mindanao.

“Hindi pa naman natapos ang Ramadan, I would like to say to the Maranao people that I am very, very, very sorry na nangyari ito sa atin. Sana kung madaling panahon you will find a new heart to forgive my soldiers, ang gobyerno, pati ako for declaring martial law,” Duterte said during his visit to an evacuation center in Iligan City.

“Wala akong choice eh. Sinisira na ang Marawi. I have to drive them (Maute group) out. But I am very sorry. Pakiabot na lang doon sa mga kapatid nating mga Maranao na ang aking paghihinanakit rin sa nangyari na ito. Patawarin ninyo po kami,” he added.

The President also promised to rebuild Marawi City and to make it beautiful again.

“Tutulungan ko kayo. Huwag kayong mag-alala. Tutulungan ko kayo hanggang relocation. And then, we will rehabilitate ang Marawi. Gaganda iyon ulit,” he said.

Source: Mocha Uson Blog